BRACE for a growing connection between two cultures

The Brazilian American Center - BRACE - officially opened on Sept. 21 at 560 Waverly St., a symbolic date to start a new season in Brazilian-American relations in Framingham.

Miryam Wiley

Here’s an immigrant story to tell your grandchildren: they came, started businesses and raised families, and eventually, they created a center to bridge two cultures.

This could summarize the idea behind the Brazilian American Center - BRACE - which was officially opened on Sept. 21 at 560 Waverly St., a symbolic date to start a new season in Brazilian-American relations in Framingham.

“It’s open to all,” said St. Tarcisius Rev. Volmar Scaravelli, who dreamed up this place when he arrived to take on the job with St. Tarcisius Parish and saw the vacant school in search of a new tenant.

“The school was closed and the space was going to be leased, but I thought that our community is big enough and we should transform it in a community center,” said Rev. Scaravelli. “I realized the idea was interesting because people here (in the community of the church) approved it. So far we only have the Catholic community, but we want all to come, with no distinction of race, gender, age or religion.”

The idea, according to the mission of the new BRACE, is to rescue Brazilian values and cultural identity while encouraging integration in the American community through education, sports and arts.

The name BRACE, explained the Rev. Scaravelli, is to remind all of the what embraces and supports. He mentioned the word “abraço” in Portuguese, meaning hug, and the acceptance and friendship they hope to foster.

When conversations started a while back, a board was formed to push forward with the renovations. Donations of some $15,000 from community members and a great number of hands-on volunteers helped the place get a fresh look, Scaravelli said.

In recent months, BRACE opened its doors to experiment with classes to teach Portuguese, English, Zumba, Brazilian Forró dance and the Martial Arts named “Capoeira.” Citizenship courses will be taught there as well, three times a year. Children’s ballet will start in October. BRACE is also the new home of the Centro Bom Samaritano, which has for years been a place that welcomes and guides new immigrants in Framingham.

For the opening ceremony on Sept. 21, which gathered some 200 people in the gymnasium turned auditorium, Rep. Chris Walsh, D-Framingham, and Rep. Tom Sannicandro, D-Ashland, read a proclamation from the House of Representatives and gave it to Rev. Scaravelli. Sannicandro surprised many as he spoke in Portuguese and stressed: “Estou aqui para servir e ajudar esta comunidade.” (I’m here to serve and help this community.)

One mother stepped up to the microphone and spoke to express everyone’s gratitude for having a place where the children can improve their Portuguese.

“So far the children have had only 20 lessons, but many of us have already seen a difference,” she said.

Dr. Paula Costa Batista, an M.D. at the Edward Kennedy Community Health Center, spoke with enthusiasm for the new community center, being herself one who grew up in Framingham.

“In medicine we learn that there is more than the physical need to help people,” she said. “One’s well-being must include emotional health.”

“I’ve followed this from a distance and I am impressed with how it has come to fruition, said Mello Barreto. “ This is an example of what a community abroad can do in a devoted and creative way,”.

Presentations of Capoeira, Forró and Zumba followed, with many showing their talents and new skills and inviting everyone to sign up for the classes.

So far, BRACE has been sponsored by St. Tarcisius church and doesn’t have to pay rent, but Rev. Scaravelli and Director Sandra Souza both said that they are in the process of becoming a non-profit 501C3 organization.

“We want to be self-sufficient,” said Souza.

Pricilla Martins, a 5th grader at the Potter Road School, summed up her enthusiasm for the new center: “ This place teaches me Portuguese but also teaches me history and a lot of things about Brazil I didn’t know,” she said.

Martins had learned some Portuguese in schools before, starting in Everett, but had missed it after she joined the mainstream classes with the American students in third grade. Her mother, Barbara Martins, couldn’t hide her gratitude for the new Center:

“I have always wanted her to speak Portuguese because of the family when she goes to Brazil,” she said, in her native Portuguese. “Now she is even correcting me in Portuguese when I speak to her.”